Visit any writing message board and you'll read discussion threadson contests and competitionsfor writers. The messages run the gamut of those who have beenscammed to those who raveabout contests. So where does the truth lie? For as many contestsfor writers there are out there,there are as many truths.

Before you run away from the opportunities offered by manylegitimate writing contests, read thefollowing eleven tips on choosing, winning and benefitting fromwriting contests.

1. Visit the websites listed below under resources. Many offercomments on writing contestswhich can help you decide which ones are for you, and which ones areto avoid. Do an internetsearch on the publication, business or person running the contest.While not answering all yourquestions, this type of search can help you cross off questionablecontests.

2. If a contest is free to enter, you have nothing to lose, butstill read the fine print. There arecontests that claim rights to any winning stories, or even allsubmissions. For contests with anentry fee, decide if the prize money justifies the fee. For example,would you pay $15 entry feefor a poetry contest where the winner received $35 as the prize?Would you pay a fee if the prizewas publication, or a book?

3. Still unsure about a publication or business that is running anwriting contest? E-mail thepublisher or owner and ask for references. Visit the contest'swebsite and track down formerwinners. Again, this is not a guarantee of anything, but if a formerwinner says he lost all rightsto his story and was never paid, or on the other hand, if the winnerraves about the cash prizesand personal note from the literary agent/contest judge, you have abetter idea of how you arelikely to be treated in each case.

4. Read the rules carefully to make sure that a prize will beawarded no matter how many entriesare received. If there is a minimum amount of entries (say theeditor just wants to bring in entryfees equal to the cash awarded), make sure that the contest's rulesstate the fees will be refundedif the competition cannot be completed.

5. Want to increase your odds of winning? Find a relatively newpublication or contest. Eachyear a contest is held builds on the previous year's publicity. Thesecond annual contest of afiction magazine will likely draw less entries than one that's beenpublicized for ten years.

6. Another way to hedge your bets is to follow the contest'srules. Know the word limit, way tosubmit, how to pay the entry fee and when winners will be announced.Do not think your storywill be so special that the judges will overlook your sloppyformatting, lack of fee or 4000 extrawords.

7. Read the list of judges. This could be as important as (andmore exciting than) reading thecontest rules. Will a magazine editor be judging your work? Maybeyou'll catch the eye of a bookeditor, literary agent, novelist or publisher. If the judge list isgreat, and you don't win a prize,you can still hope to hear from one of the judges asking you tosubmit to his magazine, or from apublisher asking if you have a novel in the works. For example, thekinds of judges you mightwish to have reading your work can be found at Futures MysteriousAnthology Magazine whichlists its judges online: http://www.fmam.biz/contests.html#judges.

8. Organize your work to be ready to enter contests. New contestspop up daily online. If youhave your stories, essays, poems and book proposals organized, youcan quickly pull one fromyour files of articles. Some contests accept previously publishedpieces, so know where yourreprints are too.

10. Write fiction and want to add a win to your publishing credits?Know the periodicals andreviews that have writing contests. Read what they publish so you'llknow what to submit to thecontests. Glimmer Train has an annual new writers contest for thosewho've not yet beenpublished in the short story genre. They are so organized for thisand their other contests that theyaccept entries and the fee online, and send e-mail reminders tosubscribers and writers when newcontest deadlines are looming.

11. Take advantage of business tax deductions. Entry fees can belisted on your Schedule C(assuming you are a sole proprietorship) as a business expense, sokeep track of entry fees you'vepaid. Any cash prizes, though, are not considered business income,but must be listed under"Other Income" on your 1040.

Resources to Help You Find and Win Contests:

Information on Contestshttp://www.windpub.com/literary.scams/http://www.writersweekly.com/phpBB2 - has a Whispers and WarningsBoardhttp://www.sfwa.org/Beware/contests.htmlhttp://www.absolutewrite.com - click on Water Cooler at top of pageto go to both a Bewaresmessage board and a message board of paying opportunities includingcontests.

Pamela White is the editor and publisher of "Food Writing," anonline newsletter which isrunning its first contest right now. She writes on writing, food,parenting, nutrition and life ingeneral from her haunted home in northern New York amid the bustleof three children, herhusband, five cats and one dog. Visit her at http://www.food-writing.com.